\Lim"it\ (l[i^]m"[i^]t), n. [From L. limes, limitis: cf.
F. limite; or from E. limit, v. See {Limit}, v. t.]
1. That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or
   confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent;
   as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the
   limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
         As eager of the chase, the maid Beyond the forest's
         verdant limits strayed.               --Pope.
2. The space or thing defined by limits.
         The archdeacon hath divided it Into three limits
         very equally.                         --Shak.
3. That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period
   itself; the full time or extent.
         The dateless limit of thy dear exile. --Shak.
         The limit of your lives is out.       --Shak.
4. A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
         I prithee, give no limits to my tongue. --Shak.
5. (Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing
   characteristic; a differentia.
6. (Math.) A determinate quantity, to which a variable one
   continually approaches, and may differ from it by less
   than any given difference, but to which, under the law of
   variation, the variable can never become exactly
   equivalent.
{Elastic limit}. See under {Elastic}.
{Prison limits}, a definite extent of space in or around a
   prison, within which a prisoner has liberty to go and
   come.
Syn: Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound;
     confine.

\Lim"it\ (l[i^]m"[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Limited}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Limiting}.] [F. limiter, L. limitare, fr.
limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin to limen threshold, E.
eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.]
To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate,
circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit
the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to
limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of
a word.
{Limiting parallels} (Astron.), those parallels of latitude
   between which only an occultation of a star or planet by
   the moon, in a given case, can occur.

\Lim"it\, v. i.
To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited
region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]